Lakshya Sen Finishes Runner-Up at All England Open 2026 After Beating World No.1 Shi Yuqi
Lakshya Sen Finishes Runner-Up at All England Open 2026 After Beating World No.1 Shi Yuqi
Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen finished runner-up at the All England Open 2026, losing to Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei 21-15, 22-20 in the men's singles final in Birmingham.
Despite the defeat in the final, Lakshya Sen produced one of the standout performances of the tournament. The Indian shuttler defeated world No.1 Shi Yuqi and several top players during his impressive run at the prestigious BWF Super 1000 event.
The All England Championships remain one of badminton's most historic tournaments, and Lakshya Sen's campaign once again highlighted his ability to challenge the world's best.
Round of 32: Lakshya Sen vs Shi Yuqi
Lakshya Sen opened his All England Open 2026 campaign with one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Facing China's Shi Yuqi, the top seed and world No.1, Sen showed tremendous composure in a high-intensity three-game battle.
Lakshya Sen def. Shi Yuqi — 23-21, 19-21, 21-17
The Indian held his nerve in the deciding game, producing aggressive net play and precise attacking shots to secure a memorable victory.
The win immediately placed Lakshya Sen among the contenders for the title.
Round of 16: Lakshya Sen vs Ng Ka Long Angus
In the Round of 16, Lakshya Sen faced Hong Kong's experienced shuttler Ng Ka Long Angus.
The match turned into a tightly contested encounter that went the distance.
Lakshya Sen def. Ng Ka Long Angus — 21-19, 21-23, 21-10
After narrowly losing the second game, Lakshya Sen responded strongly in the decider, dominating the rallies and pulling away to seal the victory.
The result secured the Indian shuttler a place in the quarterfinals.
Quarterfinal: Lakshya Sen vs Li Shi Feng
Lakshya Sen continued his strong run by facing China's Li Shi Feng, one of the tournament favourites.
The Indian delivered a composed performance, controlling rallies with sharp net play and solid defence.
Lakshya Sen def. Li Shi Feng — 21-13, 21-16
The straight-games victory pushed Lakshya Sen into the semifinals of the prestigious tournament.
Semifinal: Lakshya Sen vs Victor Lai
In the semifinals, Lakshya Sen faced Canada's Victor Lai in a physically demanding contest.
Despite signs of fatigue after several long matches earlier in the week, the Indian battled through a tense three-game encounter.
Lakshya Sen def. Victor Lai — 21-16, 18-21, 21-15
The victory secured Lakshya Sen a spot in the All England Open final, marking another milestone in his international career.
Final: Lin Chun-Yi vs Lakshya Sen
In the championship match, Lakshya Sen faced Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei, who had also enjoyed an impressive run during the tournament.
Lin Chun-Yi def. Lakshya Sen — 21-15, 22-20
Lin controlled the opening game with powerful attacking play. Lakshya Sen mounted a strong fightback in the second game and pushed the contest to 20-20, but Lin held his nerve to close out the match and secure the title.
Lakshya Sen Results – All England Open 2026
| Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Round of 32 | Shi Yuqi | W 23-21, 19-21, 21-17 |
| Round of 16 | Ng Ka Long Angus | W 21-19, 21-23, 21-10 |
| Quarterfinal | Li Shi Feng | W 21-13, 21-16 |
| Semifinal | Victor Lai | W 21-16, 18-21, 21-15 |
| Final | Lin Chun-Yi | L 15-21, 20-22 |
Strong Tournament Run for Lakshya Sen
Although he narrowly missed the title, Lakshya Sen's performance at the All England Open 2026 reinforced his status among the world's top men's singles players.
Defeating the world No.1 Shi Yuqi and reaching the final of a BWF Super 1000 event demonstrated the Indian shuttler's ability to compete at the highest level.
With several major tournaments ahead in the badminton calendar, Lakshya Sen's performance in Birmingham suggests that a major title could be within reach soon.